JOHOR BARU: For the past two months, two men have been impersonating policemen to commit armed robberies on foreigners in the district.
The Malaysian men, aged 30 and 36, were arrested on Sunday by Larkin police station intelligence sector policemen at Jalan Kebun Teh when they were robbing their victim who was an Indonesian man, at 8.10pm.
Johor Baru Selatan police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahurinain Jais said the duo had been involved in eight cases of robbery since early July, this year.
In some of the cases, the men impersonated Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Immigration Department personnel.
The duo were caught wearing fake police vests and they would often demand to see the identity cards of their unsuspecting victims and proceed to run checks on them.
"Their modus operandi was that they would introduce themselves as policemen to victims.
“Then the impersonators will ask the victims for their passports or identity cards to check before seizing valuables.
"Victims who demanded to see the duo's police identity cards or resisted the checks ended up being assaulted," Shahurinain told reporters at the district police headquarters.
Police have seized various items from the two Malaysians including two fake pistols, electric taser, six handphones, cash and documents believed to belong to some of their victims.
"These items were seized from a bag carried by one of the men, and from the seat compartment of a Honda Wave motorcycle," he said.
The men were initially remanded for four days and they are expected to have their remand order extended.
"The duo are friends and they have criminal record for criminal breach of trust and motor vehicle theft," he said, adding that the duo had also tested positive for Methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated under Section 395 and 397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery and armed robbery with attempt to cause death or grevious hurt.